City comparison
Yes. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
The income gap between Newark and St Paul is significant: $52,060 median household versus $73,394. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark and $1,281 in St Paul.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul is the easier city on typical rent, but Newark can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Newark and St Paul are 999 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $111 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $73,394 in St Paul, up $21,334 (41%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 166 in St Paul, up 30 points (22%).
The move
St Paul and Newark are 999 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $111 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $52,060 in Newark, down $21,334 (29%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 136 in Newark, down 30 points (18%).
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Newark and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
St Paul rent is 8% cheaper than Newark
Newark
$1,392/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,392 in Newark, so St Paul is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $111, or $1,332 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
St Paul's median income is 41% higher than Newark
Newark
$52,060
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 41% higher in St Paul (about $21,334 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, St Paul is the stronger labor market on paper. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 18% lower than St Paul
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Newark. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Newark is the easier city. St Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Newark weather is 19% more comfortable than St Paul
Newark
Winner54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Newark scores 19% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose St Paul if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Newark if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 19%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Newark is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than St Paul (136 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 41% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: St Paul at $73,394 median income versus $52,060 in Newark. Housing ($1,392 in Newark, $1,281 in St Paul) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $111 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Newark and 50°F in St Paul.
If local pay drives your move, St Paul is the stronger match ($73,394 median income against $52,060). If an employer or family tie already points to Newark, treat $1,392/month rent and $52,060 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Newark and St Paul, plus other cities in NJ and MN.
